A teachers’ group on Friday, September 4, trooped to the gates of the House of Representatives to demand a bigger education budget for 2021 as the country shifts to distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The pandemic fully exposed the weaknesses of our education system, as well as of other social institutions, caused largely by year after year of insufficient funding…. We demand our duly-elected officials to ensure the judicious use of our funds by prioritizing social and economic services,” said Raymond Basilio, secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

ACT said the pandemic highlighted the problems in the education sector that have long existed before the health crisis happened. The problems such as “perennial” shortages in funding “drastically aggravated” by the shift to distance learning. 

“With DepEd’s poorly funded remote learning plans, at least 4 million learners are at risk of being left behind while the rest are set to endure diminished learning quality,” Basilio said. (READ: No student left behind? During pandemic, education ‘only for those who can afford‘)

The government has allocated P606.5 billion of its proposed P4.5 trillion budget for 2021 to DepEd. (READ: Proposed P4.5-trillion 2021 budget goes to Congress)

While the education sector would receive the lion’s share of funds, several groups believe the amount is still not enough to cover the needs of the education sector for the overhauled education system. (READ: [ANALYSIS] Why you should be alarmed by Duterte’s 2021 budget)

ACT is pushing for a significant budget increase for education “to warrant the provision of learning needs and the granting of health benefits and protection to education frontliners.”

ACT said all teachers and poor students must be provided with laptops or tablets, and an internet allowance of at least P1,500 per month to cope with the needs of the digital shift. 

The teachers’ group also asked the government to “fully subsidize COVID-19 testing and treatment of education workers, while teachers should also be finally granted sick leave benefits.”

Teachers’ anxieties over the opening of school worsened when DepEd said it has no budget allotted for the treatment of teachers who contract COVID-19. (READ: No budget for treatment of teachers with coronavirus – DepEd official)

DepEd, however, pointed out that all government employees, including DepEd employees, are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which is now a subject of investigation because of corruption allegations.

As of August 23, a total of 823 students and DepEd personnel have contracted the coronavirus disease.

ACT also called for the establishment of safe schools that are “both resilient and responsive to disease outbreaks” such as the coronavirus pandemic.

The group made the demands as Congress began deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget on Friday.

DepEd’s appeal

DepEd earlier said that it would appeal to move some P26 billion in “unprogrammed” funds to programmed funds, as well as teachers’ annual medical allowance, when Congress tackles the agency’s 2021 budget on September 15. (READ: DepEd says it will appeal ‘unprogrammed’, medical exam funds in proposed 2021 budget)

Under the proposed P606.5 billion budget of DepEd for 2021, P475 billion would go to salaries of teachers and other personnel. The government is allotting P24 billion to basic education facilities; P26 billion to government assistance and subsidies; P1.5 billion to Last Mile schools; and P15 billion to flexible learning options. (READ: Back to school during a pandemic: Issues that need to be solved before October 5)

As of Friday, a total of 21,153,731 public school students have signed up for school opening on October 5. – Rappler.com